Rajiv Ruparelia: Generous to a fault

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He was generous to the core; that's how those who benefited from his generosity describe Rajiv Ruparelia. When he was thrust onto Kampala's social scene, hardly in his 20s, Rajiv divided opinion. He was the youngest nightclub owner, with his baby project being Club Sway (housed at the present Kampala Boulevard).

When he sauntered in, with chubby cheeks, a permanent grin, shorts, T-shirts, and slippers, corporates (with company tags, folded sleeves, and noses in the air) wondered how a carelessly dressed man could invade their privacy at the high-end club. He was the owner, but he never told. Even when it dawned on them, many dismissed it as "Daddy's money."

An open bar, a hearty laugh, and endless episodes later, some of these individuals were to become Rajiv Ruparelia's bosom buddies until his death. They confess that he was financially generous and rich in emotion. All you had to do was be free, open, and frank with him and not spend valuable time singing praises once he offered help.

He encouraged one to show initiative with the money; for instance, some individuals started newspapers and online publications and were generous beneficiaries of his help in the form of advertisements.

For his wedding to wife Naiya Khagram in 2017, it was Rajiv's wish that local journalists, with whom he had built a bond, cover the wedding in London. Many jumped on the offer, but for some, their bank balance statements read like radio frequencies. Enter Rajiv. He stepped in to ensure they got visas and much more, as one confesses, "In London, I was exposed to a whole new world and experience. Since we were close, I whispered to him that I would not return to Uganda but explore life there. He set me aside and talked me out of it, highlighting the many opportunities I would explore in Uganda, even outside media. I listened. I don't regret. Rajiv instilled in me a business sense I never had."

Even here, one would mistake Kabira Health Club for a journalist's and artist's meeting place. He freely gave out gym membership, and many attribute their fitness to his generosity.

Ussa Segawa, one of Rajiv's go-to liaisons, says that Rajiv's giving was thoughtful, often quiet. It must have been motivated by a genuine desire to improve lives rather than get recognition. "He wanted to create meaningful change in people, although many misunderstood him," Segawa told New Vision.

Although Rajiv was the life of the party, enjoying banter and camaraderie with friends, he would take offence and sideline you if all you did was show up for the party with no further initiatives. "He encouraged us to work. Even when he partied late, he was always up by 6:30 am, ready to work and oversee projects."

Prodigy rapper Fresh Kid, broken at the death of Rajiv, had one scant consolation: "I will forever be indebted to him. He picked me from P2 and educated me up to P7 on a scholarship. The pride on Rajiv's face as I handed him my P7 results, where I scored first grade, will always live with me," he said. Rajiv also sponsored rapper Felistar the Superstar's education.

However, like any adrenaline-infused youth, he would once in a blue moon hit a raw nerve, spew a few expletives before regaining his countenance. You said that the pressure of walking in his billionaire father's steps took a toll. He had mastered the family wealth blueprint, which makes his death sad. RIP Rajiv.